The 2022 WPIAL football season is nearly upon us! Over the next few weeks we will be previewing all 17 conferences in preparation for kickoff on August 26. We are also thrilled to announce that the WPIAL Blitz Show will be back on the YouTube airwaves this season. Follow the Sports Stream Premium channel with new shows dropping each Tuesday during the season!
This year, our WPIAL coverage is proudly presented by Sports Solutions Marketing. The Sports Solutions network provides pay per view hosting and broadcasting for high school sporting events. More information is available via EasternPAFootball.com.
The 2022 season is a realignment year in Pennsylvania. New classification and conference alignments were announced back in the spring. Class 3A will have one fewer team this cycle, dropping down to 19 schools. Both WPIAL finalists from last season (Central Valley and North Catholic) have moved up to 4A. In fact, Quaker Valley and Elizabeth Forward are the only current 3A teams to have played in a 3A Championship game in the six-classification era. Aliquippa, Central Valley, and North Catholic are in 4A while Beaver Falls and Derry are now in 2A. This also means there will be a new champion on the block as all six 3A titles since 2016 had been won by Ohio Valley schools (Beaver Falls, Quaker Valley, Aliquippa, and Central Valley). This has not just a local but a statewide impact as the WPIAL 3A Champion has played in all 6 State title games and won 5 of them. Once again, 12 3A teams will make the WPIAL playoffs with the top four seeds receiving byes. The eventual WPIAL Champions will enter the state playoffs at the semifinals.
This cycle’s alignment of the Interstate Conference will have a new look with Belle Vernon and Greensburg Salem moving down from 4A. Belle Vernon is coming off a trip to the WPIAL finals where they fell to Aliquippa but enter the season as the top-ranked 3A team in the state. They join Elizabeth Forward, the two-time defending Conference Champs, along with three other teams that made the playoffs last year (Mt Pleasant, South Allegheny, and Southmoreland).
Be sure to keep tabs on our WPIAL Standings Page throughout the season and follow our WPIAL Twitter account @WPIAL_Blitz. Teams are listed in their predicted order of finish.
Belle Vernon
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 1
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 14
2021 Results: 10-1, lost to Aliquippa in 4A WPIAL Championship
The Leopards moved down from 4A to 3A this season and are immediate contenders for the 3A crown. Belle Vernon was one of the top 4A programs in recent years, reaching the WPIAL final in two of the last three seasons but falling to eventual State Champions Thomas Jefferson and Aliquippa. A number of starters graduated from last year’s team but a pair of rising juniors should lead the way this season. Quinton Martin (902 rushing yards, 164 receiving yards, 16 total TDs) is one of the top prospects in the state and already has numerous major college offers including Pitt, Penn State, WVU, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, and Michigan. When Martin missed a few games due to injury last year, Jake Gedekoh (501 yards, 8 TDs) stepped in and performed admirably. Those two should form the cornerstone of Belle Vernon’s rushing attack this season. Fellow junior Braden Laux saw a handful of snaps as a backup QB last season and will likely step into the role this year. Belle Vernon doesn’t throw much, but has a good pair of senior receivers in Evan Pohlot (299 yards, 1 TD) and Chase Ruokonen (233 yards, 3 TDs). With the move down to 3A, Belle Vernon is absolutely a threat to contend for the WPIAL title after boasting the second-best offense and defense in 4A last season.
Elizabeth Forward
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 4
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 47
2021 Results: 9-3, lost to Central Valley in Quarterfinals
The Warriors have built themselves into a strong program under head coach Mike Collodi. In 2020 they reached the WPIAL Championship game for the first time in school history. Last year, they bounced back from two early losses in non-conference play to dominate the Interstate Conference and make it back to the semifinals. In conference play, the Warriors scored 40+ in all but one game and only one team scored more than once on their defense. QB Zion White returns for his senior season after throwing for 1006 yards and 19 TDs and adding 225 yards and 2 scores on the ground. John DiNapoli broke the WPIAL freshman record for passing yards at East Allegheny and was a stalwart of the Warriors defense after transferring last season. DiNapoli did play a little on offense and ran for 215 yards and 3 TDs. Leading receiver Zach Boyd (527 yards, 16 total TDs) also returns for his senior season. Watch out for sophomore Charlie Nigut who was a big-play machine last year (230 rushing yards, 181 receiving yards, 6 total TDs). Elizabeth Forward returns a ton of talent from a team that has been to the semifinals in each of the last two seasons and they should be right in the mix with Belle Vernon to compete for both the conference and WPIAL titles.
Greensburg Salem
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 3
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 42
2021 Results: 5-5, missed playoffs in 4A on a tiebreaker
The Lions are moving down to 3A this season after narrowly missing a playoff spot on tiebreakers. Last year’s team had one of the top QB-WR tandems in the WPIAL. Cody Rubrecht (1010 yards, 13 TDs) led the WPIAL in receiving last season but will move to QB this year. Replacing Rubrecht on the outside will be Christian Hostetler (237 yards, 1 TD). Leading rushers Rashad Canady (381 yards, 7 TDs) and JC Wallish (289 yards, 2 TDs) will both be back for the Lions. All in all, Greensburg Salem is loaded with returning talent at the offensive skill positions. The Lions should be right in the mix for a playoff spot with the move down to 3A.
Mt Pleasant
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 10
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 60
2021 Results: 6-5, lost to North Catholic in the Quarterfinals
The Vikings have made the playoffs in three straight seasons, falling in the quarterfinals each time. Last year they topped Burrell in the opening round before falling to Avonworth. Senior RB Robbie Labuda (1004 yards, 13 TDs) was the workhorse in Mount Pleasant’s offense last year and will be again. Dual-threat QB Tyler Reese had about the same number of passing attempts as rushing attempts. Reese threw for 431 yards and 4 TDs and ran for 350 yards and 5 TDs. With the backfield tandem of Labuda and Reese leading the way, the Vikings should contend for a playoff spot once again this season.
South Allegheny
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 18
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 80
2021 Results: 4-7, lost to Keystone Oaks in the first round of the playoffs.
The Gladiators made the playoffs for the first time since 2012 last season. They bounced back from an 0-4 start to the season to win 4 of their last 6 games, including victories over South Park and Mount Pleasant that got them into the playoffs. South A will need to work in a new slate of starters around QB Eric Wehrer. The other change for South Allegheny this season will be playing on a new turf field. Glassport Stadium, which had opened in 1950, closed at the end of last year.
Southmoreland
WPIAL ELO Rank (3A): 17
WPIAL ELO Rank (Overall): 79
2021 Results: 7-4, lost to East Allegheny in the first round of the playoffs
This will be an emotional year for the Scotties. Long-time offensive line coach Ron Frederick was set to take over the head coaching duties but tragically suffered a heart attack in the spring. Offensive coordinator Tim Bukowski will now step into the coaching role and try to guide the Scotties to the playoffs for the third time in four years. Travon Lee saw some time in relief duty as a backup QB last year and figures to step into the starting role this season. Unfortunately for Lee, the top 4 receivers and top 4 rushers from last year’s squad all graduated. The Scotties will have to work in a whole new slate of starters this season in order to contend for a playoff spot.
